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Social media 'crimes' on the increase

In the UK the number of alleged crimes involving social media has increased nearly eight-fold in four years. In a Freedom of Information request, police forces were asked to provide figures for crimes in which either Facebook or Twitter was a key factor.

The UK's Director of Public Prosecutions has released updated guidelines for England and Wales, looking to ensure a more consistent approach to these types of incident. There have been several high profile and controversial cases in the UK including the widely condemned (and later overturned) conviction of a disgruntled passenger who tweeted his desire to blow up an airport.

The guidelines will mean that police forces and prosecutors will focus on prioritising 'higher end' threats and behaviour that require police intervention.